Tempering machine



Jan. 7, 1930. B. H. URSCHEL TEMPERI NG MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm" fox 1930. B. H. URSCHEL 1,742,739

TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 Sheets-Sheet 3B. H. URSCHEL TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1928 R Q "W F w Q EYN w74 x Jan. 7, 1930.

Jan. 7 1930. H R H 1,742,739

TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lllllllllllllll!grvuewliot Jan. 7, 1930.

B. H. URSCHEL 1,742,739 TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 6 HEIEI gnuc'ntoz Gum nu Patented Jan. 7, 1930 BERTIS'H.URSCHEL, or BOWLING GREEN, orgro TEMPERIN G MACHINE Application. filedOctober 31,- 1928. Serial No.'316,265.

My invention'has for its object to provide a machine for heat treatingobjects of different kinds, such as for tempering forgings, whereinparts of the objects, during the heat treatment, are secured in definitepositions relative to each other, while 'other parts of the object arepermitted limited movements during the contraction of the objects whilecooling. The invention particularly has for its object to provide ameans for securing parts of forgings in definite positions relative toeach other while the forgings are being tempered.

The invention provides a plurality of clamping members for'clampingparts of the object. The clamping members are, preferabl'y, operated byhydraulic pressure in order, to provide a means that may be easilycontrolled and has suflicient force to withstand any distortion or wantof conformation to definite specifications by reason of the strains thatare set up in the object during its rapid cooling. Machines containingmyinvention are provided. with a trough having anvils I which are solocated as to receive the parts of the object which are to be confinedor forced to certain points that are in definite relation to each other.The machines are also provided with clamping members that'may beoperated to secure the parts of the forging' in advance of the temperingoperations. The machines are also provided with a means for rapidlysubmerging the forging in a suitable 'tempering liquid and quicklyremoving the forging from the liquid, as by rapid evacuation of theliquid from the trough,whereby all parts of the forgings maybe subjectedto the action of the cooling liquid during substantially the same periodof time. Thus the 40 invention provides a machine whereby forgingshaving very definite specifications as to dimensions and relativelocations of parts may be rapidly tempered and made to conform tocertain specifications, both as to shape and as to temper.

The invention may be contained in machines that vary in their details ofconstruction and, to illustrate a practical application of theinvention, I have selected a machine for tempering crank shafts of thetype commonly used in connection with internal combustion engines, suchas are commonly used in automobile engines, and shall describe ithereinafter. The tempering -machine selected for purposes ofillustration is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the machine, a partbeing shown in section in order to illustrate details of theconstruction. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sixcylinder engine crankshaft of the type that may be heat treated in the machine illustrated inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a view of a.longitudinal section of the machine taken on the plane of the line 44indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of a' section taken on the planeof the line 5 5 indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view of a section takenon the plane of the line 6-6 indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a view of asection taken on the plane of the line 7-7 indicated in Fig. 5. F ig. 8illustrates an enlarged view of a part of the machine in order that theparts of the machine that permit only limited movements of parts of thecrank shaft during the cooling of the crank shaft may be shown. Fig. 9is a rear view of'the machine, the IGSEIVOlIIOf the temperingliquidbeing shown in section.

The'particular machine shown in the drawings is made in the formof atrough 1 in which crank shafts, such as the crank shaft 2, illustratedin Fig. 2, may be readily placed.

The operative parts of the machine are so formed that they may bereadily retracted B5 or located so that the crank shaft 2 may be easilyinserted in position in the trough 1 while at the desired temperature.The trough 1 is thus provided with a bridge or false bottom 3 of heavyconstruction to form'asupporting bed for the crank shaft 2. The bridge 3is provided with a plurality of movable blocks 4 which have the anvils 5that are so disposed as to receive the bearing parts 6 of the crankshaft 2. Preferably, the anvils 5 have convex upper surfaces 11' intowhich the bearing parts 6 are set. The blocks 4 are supported formovements along the bridge or false bottom 3 by means of a plurality ofrollers 7 located in recesses 8 formed in the bottom 3 of the trough 1.Thus, as part of V the crank shaft 2 contracts the blocks 4 move alongthe bridge or false bottom 3.

The bridge or false bottom 3 of the trough 1 is provided With anupwardly extending wall 15 that is also provided with a pair of anvils16 having concaveend surfaces 17 for receiving the cylindrical bearingparts 18 of the crank shaft 2 when the crank shaft 2 is placed on theanvils 5. The anvils 16 are formed integral with, or are secured to, theplate 19 which is bolted to the wall 15. Since the bearing parts 18 arelocated centrally with respect to the bearing parts 6 of the crank shaft2, the anvils 16 may be made stationary while the anvils 5 permitcontracting movements of the parts of the crank shaft 2 between thebearing parts 18 and the bearing parts 6. When the crank shaft 2 hasbeen placed in this position, clamping members 25 and 35 are moved fromthe rear wall of the trough 1 and so as to be located in position tomake contact with the bearing.

part-s 6 and 18 of the crank shaft 2.

The clamping members 25 are secured to a plate 26 that is bolted to ahead 27 of a piston 28 that is movable-in a cylindrical shell 29 securedin an enlarged part of the rear wall of the trough 1. The piston 28 isoperated hydraulically to produce a considerable stroke in order thatthe clamping members 25 may be withdrawn a material distance from theanvils 16 to permit ready placement and withdrawal of the crank shafts2. The piston 28 being operated hydraulically, the clamping members 25will be forced towards the anvils 16 with considerable pressure so as tosecurely hold the bearing parts 18 against the anvils 16 during thetempering operation of the crank shaft 2.

The clamping members 35, formed with convex cylindrical end surfaces 36,are secured to, or formed integrally with, plates 37 which are bolted tothe heads 38. The pistons 39 are located in cylindrical shells 40 formedon the ends of arms 41 that are slidably supported in housings 42. Thehousings 42 are bolted to a shelf 34 formed on the upper edge of therear wall of the trough 1. The arms 41 are connected to pistons 43 bymeans of vertically disposed piston pins 44 that extend through the rearends of the arms 41 and through the piston rods 45. The pistons 43 arelocated in cylinders 46 that are bolted to the rear ends of the housings42 and the piston rods 45 and the cylinders 46 are so formed as to giveconsiderable stroke to each of the pistons 43 in order to affordconsiderable lateral displacement of the clamping members 35 relative tothe anvils 5. Thus the clamping members 35 and 25 are withdrawn wellaway from the anvils 5 and 16 in order to afford a good clearance forthe ready removal and replacement of the crank shafts 2.

In order to permit limited movement of the clamping members 35, whichmovement is necessitated by the contraction of the parts intermediatethe bearings 6 and the bearings 18, the arms 41 and the shells 42 areformed to have a slight clearance between the sides of the arms 41 andthe sides of the shells 42 located nearer to the clamping members 25. Asthe crank shaft 2 cools and the parts intermediate the bearings 6 and 18contract, the members 35 will move towards the clamping members 25 whichwill also carry with them the anvils 5 towards the fixed anvils 16within the limits of the clearance. In order to permit the endwisemovement of the clamping members 35 with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the crank shaft without undue restriction, the shells 42 areprovided with suitable recesses 50 in which are located a pair ofbearing plates 51 and roller bearings 52. The recess 50 is located inthe upper wall of the shell 42 and the bearing parts are formed tosustain the thrust produced by the clamping action of the anvils 5against the bearing parts 6 of the crank shaft 2.

The clearance between the arms 41 and the side walls of the shell 42 asshown in Fig. 8 is such as to permit and limit the movement of thebearing parts 6 of the crank shaft 2 so as to locate their centers intransverse planes extending at right angles to the axis of the bearingparts at desired distances apart. The anvils 5 and 16 operate tomaintain the said planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of thecrank shaft 2. Thus the bearing parts 6 and 18 are maintained in thedefinite positions which are determined by the distances between thecenters of the engine cylinders in connection with which each crankshaft is used.

In order to locate the clamping members 35 in position so that when thepistons 39 descend, the clamping members 35 will engage the bearingparts 6, when the crank shaft 2 is at a high temperature, the clampingmembers are swung apart by suitable springs 55 that are located inrecesses 56 formed on the insides of the shells 42 and in the lateralwalls located nearer to each other. The springs 55 are secured to thelateral walls of the shells 42 and when the clamping members 35 arereleased from the bearing parts 6, after the crank shaft 2 has becomecooled, the springs 55 operate to swing the arms 41 on the pivot pins 44against the outer lateral walls of the shells 42. Thus, the clampingmembers 35 located in position so as to engage the bearing parts 6 ofthe succeeding in the trough 1.

In order that the ends of the crank shaft 2 may be centered with respectto the longitudinal major axis of the crank shaft 2, a pair of centeringheads 60, having fingers 61, are located in cylindrical shells 63, thatare positioned in enlargements of the end walls of the trough 1, so thatthe fingers 61 will engage the ends of the crank shaft 2. In theparticular form of the crank shaft shown in F i 2, one end of the crankshaft 2 is provifed with a disc 64 and the heads 60, located in one endwall of the trough 1, are so disposed as to engage the periphery of thedisc 64. The heads 60 are operated by means of pistons 65 that arelocated in cylinders 66 that are threaded onto the enlargements 67formed on the end walls of the trough 1. Springs 68 are locatedintermediate the pistons 65 and the heads 60 and on rods 69 that areconnected to the pistons 65 and extend through the heads 60. The lengthof the rods 69 is such that the inner ends of the rods 69 will belocated within the heads 60 and so as not to interfere with theengagement of the ends of the crank shaft 2 when the heads 60 are movedinward withrespect to the trough 1 by the operation of the pistons 65 tocompress the springs 68 against the head 60 and move the heads inward toengage the ends of the crank shaft. On further movement inward of thepistons 65, the rods 69 will be moved against the ends of the crankshaft 2 which are now engaged by the fingers 61. The ends of the rods 69are made conical and, the crank shaft 2 being hot when first placed inposition, will form centeringpoints for subsequent machining ormanipulation of the crank shafts 2. When it is desired to remove thecrank shafts 2 after they have been treated or tempered, the pistons 65and the rods 69 are retracted, to remove the conical ends of the rods 69and the fingers 60 from the ends of the crank shaft 2. The rods 69 areprovided with short sleeves 70 that are secured to the rods 69 and asthe rods 69 are retracted from the crank shaft 2, the sleeves 70 engage.plates 71 located on the outer ends of the head 60 and remove the head60 and the fingers 61 from engaging relation with the crank shaft 2. Theshort sleeves 70 also operate to guide the rods 69 within the heads 60for accurately centering the center points in the ends of the axle 2.

The centering of the ends of the crank shaft 2 is, preferably,accomplished by means of pneumatic pressure exerted on the pistons 65.The ends of the heads 60, other than those having the fingers 61, areprovided with reduced portions 29 so as to provide air spaces, as at 30.Rings 31 are located in grooves formed in the cylinders 63 and near theinner ends of the cylinders 63. The heads 60 slidably fit in the rings31 and the plates 71 slidably fit in the cylinders 63. When it isdesired to return the heads to their original position, that is, in anon-engaging position with the crank shaft 2, air may be introduced intothe spaces 30, through pipes 32 and openings 33. As the rings 31 aresecured in the walls of the cylinders 63 the pressure will be exerted onthe surfaces of the plates 71 around the heads 60 and force the heads 60toward the pistons 65. The plates 71 will engage the springs 68 whichwill shift the rods 69 and the pistons'65 outwardly. The cylinders 66and the air spaces 30 surround ing the head 60, are connected to highpressure pipes 75 and 32, respectively, which lead to a source of supplyof air under pressure and the communication of the source of supply maybe controlled by a suitable valve, such as the four-way valve 76.

When, therefore, each crank shaft 2 has been placed in position andwhile it is still hot, the valve 76 is opened to the pipes 75 whichcauses quick movements of the pistons 65 and, consequently, immediatealignment of the ends of the crank shaft 2, as well as of the formationof centers in the ends of the crank shaft 2 by the conical ends of therods 69. The pistons 39 and 28, operating the clamping members 35 and25, however, are, preferably, operated hydraulically, both to clamp thebearing parts of the crank shaft 2 and to withdraw the clamps to suchpositions that the crank shafts may be readily placed in and removedfrom the trough 1. Thus the piston 28 is operated hydraulically by waterthat is supplied through the pipe 77 and water exhausted from thecylinder 29 through the pipe 78. To move the piston 28 in the oppositedirection, the reverse movement of the water is created within the pipes77 and 78. In order to operate the pistons 39, a similar direct andreverse flow is created in the pipes 79 and 80. Inasmuch as the pistons39 are located in cylinders 40, that are shifted by means of the pistons43, the portions of the pipes that are directly connected to thecylinders 40, are made flexible to allow for the 1011- gitudinalmovements of the arms 41 in the shells 42 by the operations of thepistons 43. The pistons 43 are also operated hydraulically by similardirect and reverse movements of water in the pipes 81 and 82, whichoperate alternately as pressure pipes and exhaust pipes. The pipes 77,78, 79, 80, 81, and 82, are operated in pairs and controlled by four-wayvalves 85 which alternately establish connections with the source ofsupply of water under pressure or with the water outlet pipe. Thus afree movement of the pistons is permitted when they are subject to thepressure of the source of supply, either to produce the direct movementof the pistons or to produce the reverse movements, that is, either tocause the pistons to locate the clamping members in position to engagethe bearings and to cause the clamping members to clamp the bearings ofthe axle against the anvils, or

ltlt) to locate the clamping members in a position so as to readilypermit removal of the crank shaft from the trough.

In order that the crank shafts may be quickly submerged and withdrawnfrom the tempering liquid, a means is provided for permitting the influxof a large volume of liquid into the trough 1 in a very short time. Inorder to prevent overflow of the trough 1, a definite amount or quantityof the liquid is substantially measured in advance of flooding thetrough 1 in a separate container, which is controlled by a valve thataffords a large outlet for the liquid from the container into thetrough 1. Thus a tempering liquid, such as water, is directed into thecontainer 90 through the pipe 91 which may be controlled by means of thevalve 92 and until the liquid passes out through the overflow pipe 94which operates to measure the quantity of liquid that is retained in thecontainer 90. The container 90 has an outlet through the pipe 95 that isconnected to the bottom of the container 90 and to one of the end wallsof the trough 1 at a point below the bridge or false bottom 3. Theoutlet of the container 90, through the pipe 95, is controlled by meansof the valve 96 which may be manipulated by means of a suitable lever95' that is connected to the valve 96 by means of the rod The bridge 3or false bottom of the trough 1 prevents the immediate washing of theheated crank shaft 2 during the influx of the liquid which wouldotherwise cause local chilling of the crank shaft 2. The bridge or falsebottom 3 operates as a bafile to cause substantially uniform submergenceof the crank shaft 2 throughout its length. \Vhen the crank shaft 2 hasbeen subjected to the chilling effect of the liquid for a definiteperiod of time, the liquid is rapidly withdrawn through a large outlet97 which is controlled by the manually operated valve 98. The outlet 97is also located in the end wall of the trough 1 and below the bridge orfalse bottom 3. The outlet 97 when opened, establishes communicationbetween the bottom of the trough 1 and the interior of a box 99 that isbolted to the end of the trough 1. A pipe 100 of large diametercommunicates with the interior of the box 99 to permit free flow of theliquid from the box 99 and, consequently, from the trough 1 when thevalve 98 is open. The valve 98 is spring pressed by means of the spring101 and is operated by a lever 102 which is connected to the rod 103that is in turn connected to the valve 98. The box 99 is proi'ded withbosses '104 in which a bearing sleeve 105 is located and through whichthe rod 103 slidably moves when operated by the lever 102 to open thevalve 98 and when operated by the spring 101 to close the' valve 98.

Thus, by my invention, have provided a means for rapidly temperingobjects, such as crank shafts or axles, while at the same timemaintaining parts, such as the bearing parts of a crank shaft, in exactaxial alignment with respect to the centers of the cylinders of theengines or the centers of supporting parts of axles at specified pointsand in specified relation.

I claim:

1. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of clamping membersfor clamping parts of the object to maintain the said parts in definiterelation with respect to other parts of the objects, means for securingone of the clamping members substantially stationary, and means forsupporting one of the clamping members for movements limited as todirection as the object is cooled.

2. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of clamping membersfor clamping parts of the object to maintain the said parts in definiterelation with respect to their location about a central axis, means forsecuring one of the clamping members substantially stationary, and meansfor supporting one set of clamping members for limited movements in thedirection of the central axis of the object as the object is cooled.

3. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of sets of clampingmembers for clamping parts of the object to maintain the said parts indefinite relation with respect to their location about a central axis,means for securing one set of clamping members substantially stationary,and means for supporting the other sets of clamping members formovements in the direction of the (entral axis as the object is cooled,the first named set of clamping members located near a central part ofthe object and the second named sets of clamping members located tosecure parts of the object on opposite sides of the first named set.

4. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of sets of clampingmembers for clamping parts of the object for maintaining the said partsin de-'inite relation with respect to their location about a centralaxis, means for securing one set of clamping members substantiallystationary, and means for supporting the other sets of clamping membersfor limiting movements towards the first named clamping members and inthe direction of the central axis of the object as the object is cooled,the first named set of clampin members located near a central part ofthe ob ect and the second named sets of clamping members located tosecure parts of the object on opposite sides of the first named set.

5. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality ofv anvilsfor supporting the object, one of the anvils slidably supported relativeto the trough, a plurality of clamping members for securing the objectto the anvils, and means for limiting the movements of the part of theobject clamped to the movable anvil produced While the object is cooled.

6. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvilsfor supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clampingthe object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping memberslaterally relative to the anvils, and means for moving the clampingmembers to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, one of the anvilsslidably supported relative to the trough, and means for limiting themovements of the part of the object clamped to the movable anvil Whilethe object is cooling.

7. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvilsfor supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clampingthe object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping memberslaterally relative to the anvils, and means for moving the clampingmembers to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securingone of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and means for movablysupporting one of the anvils and one of the clamping members.

8. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvilsfor supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clampingthe object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping memberslaterally relative to the anvils, and means for moving the clampingmembers to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securingone of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and means for movablysupporting one of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and meansfor limiting the movements of the last named anvils and clampingmembers.

9. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvilsfor supporting the object,apluralityofclampingmembers for clamping theobject to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping members laterallyrelative to the anvils, means for movingthe clamping members to clampparts of the object to the anvils, means for securing one of the anvilsand one of the clamping members, and means for movably supporting theother of the anvils and clamping members, the last named anvils andclamping members being located on opposite sides of the first namedclamping member and anvil.

10. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvilsfor supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clampingthe object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping memberslaterally relative to the anvils, means for moving the clamping membersto clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securing one ofthe anvils and one of the clamping members, means for movably supportingthe other of the anvils and clamping members, the last In witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

BERTIS H. URSCHEL.

